Photographic camera.



No. 704,335. Patented July 8, 1902.

C. E. HUTCHINGS.

PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA.

(App! t nfildAp 4 1902 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HUTCHINGS, OF ROCHESTER, NEl/V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROCHESTER OPTICAL AND CAMERA COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEIV YORK.

PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 704,385, dated July 8, 1902.

Application filed April 4, 1902. Serial No. 101,400. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Huron- INGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Photographic Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of photo graphic cameras in which springs are employed for automatically throwing open the cover for the front of the camera-box and for automatically throwing into operation the lock which retains the cover in its open or horizontal position, the object of the invention being to provide a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby a single spring on each side of the camera-box may serve the double function of opening the cover and throwing into operation the lock therefor.

The details of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a photographic camera embodying my improvement, showing the bed swung downwardly and locked in horizontal position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bed swung upwardly and acting as a cover for the front of the camera-box; and Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a modification.

Like reference-numeralsindicate like parts in the different views.

The camera-box 1 may be of any suitable or preferred construction and has hinged thereto the cover 2 for the front thereof,which is adapted to be swung open and thrown down into horizontal position to serve as a bed for the extension-front. Suitable spring locking devices may be employed for retaining the cover 2 in its closed position.

Pivoted to the cover 2, on opposite sides thereof, are the links 3, the same being provided with elongated slots 4, having lateral ofisets or notches 5 at the upper ends thereof. Secured to the sides of the camera-box 1, projecting inwardly therefrom and eXtending through the slots a in the links 8, are the headed pins 6, the same providing for the sliding movement of the links 3, but serving to lock said links, and consequently the bed or cover 2, against movement when they are seated in the notches or offsets 5. The pins 6 are so disposed with respect to the notches or offsets 5 that the same will exactly register therewith when the bed or cover 2 has reached its horizontal position. Secured to the camera-box 1 are the springs 7, which normally bear against the inner edges of the links 3 and serve when the locking device for holding the cover 2 in its raised position is released to throw outwardly said links 3, and consequently the bed or cover 2, and also serve when the notches or offsets 5 of the slots l: come opposite the pins 6 to throw the free ends of the links 3 upwardly and outwardlyto cause the interlocking action of the pins 6 on said notches or offsets. The springs '7 are secured at their upper inner ends within the camera-box 1, and from their points of attachment are curved downwardly and outwardly, the free ends thereof being formed with reversely-curved engaging portions 8, which bear against the inner edges of the links 3. The springs 7 therefore, being constantlyin engagement with the links 3 and being constantly under tension, serve to exert a constant outward pressure upon said links.

. When the cover 2 is in its raised position, the

links 3 will be in upright position, and the tendency of said springs therefore is to throw the lower ends of the links, and consequently the cover 2, outwardly. WVhen said cover is moved to its extreme downward positionthat is,when it assumes a horizontal position or one at right angles to the front of the cameraboX--the notches or offsets 5 in the slots 4 will have reached a position opposite the pins 6, and the springs 7 will then act to throw the upper free ends of said links outwardly, causing the interlocking engagement of the pins 6 with the notches 5. The bed or cover 2 is then looked in outward position, and to return the same to its closed position it is necessary to force inwardly the free ends of the links 3 against the action of the springs '7, so as to disengage the notches 5 from the pins (5.

It will be seen from the foregoing that each of the springs 7 serves the twofold purpose of throwing outwardly the cover 2 when the locking mechanism therefor has been released and of throwing outwardly the links3 when the cover or bed 2 has reached a horizontal position, so as to lock the same in such position.

In the alternative form of my invention (illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings) the details of construction vary somewhat from that above described, although the results obtained are identical. In this form of my invention the links 3 are pivoted to lugs or brackets 9 on the bed or cover 2 and are provided at their upper free ends with laterally-extending pins or projections 10. These pins or projections tit and move within elongated slots 11 in vertically-disposed plates or brackets 12, secured to the inner surfaces of the sides of. the camera-box 1. The lower ends of the slots 11 are formed with forwardly and upwardly extending inclined notches or offsets 13, which are adapted to cooperate with the pins or projections 10 on the links 3 to lock the cover or bed 2 in its open or horizontal position. The springs 7 are similar to those in my preferred construction, the same being secured at their upper inner ends with in the camera-box, extending downwardly and forwardly from their points of attachment, and provided with reversely-curved free ends, which constitute engaging portions 8. These engaging portions are adapted to bear against the inner edges of the links 3 when the cover or bed 2 approaches its horizontal position and are adapted to engage the links 3 adjacent to their points of attachment to the lugs or brackets 9 when the cover or bed 2 is in or adjacent to its closed position. The operation of this form of my invention is similar to that of the preferred formthat is to say, when the cover 2 is in its closed position the springs 7 are placed under tension by the engagement of the lower ends of the links 3 with the reversely-curved ends or engaging portions 8 of said springs. Then, therefore, the lock which retains the cover 2 in is closed position is released, the springs 7, acting upon the lower ends of the links 3, will serve to throw the cover 2 outwardly. As said cover2 approaches its horizontal position the upper or free ends of the links 3 will have been moved downwardly to points adjacent to the lower ends of the slots 11 in the plates or brackets 10. At such time the inner edges of said links will again be brought in contact with the engaging portions 8 of the springs 7, and when the pins or projections 10 on the links 3 arrive at points opposite the notches or offsets 13 in the slots 11 the free ends of said links will be thrown upwardly and outwardly and the pins 10 will be moved into interlocking relation with the notches or offsets 13. The cover or bed 2 will then be firmly retained in its open horizontal position, and to return the same to its closed position it is necessary to force inwardly the free ends of the links 3 against the action of the springs '7, so as to disengage the pins or projections 10 from the notches or offsets 13. In this form of my invention, as in that first described, it will be observed that the springs 7 serve the twofold purpose of opening the cover 2 and of looking the same in horizontal position.

Having now described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a camera-box, and a cover for the front of the same, hinged thereto, of a lock for retaining said cover in horizontal position, and a spring secured within said camera-box for throwing open said cover and operating said lock.

2. The combination with a camera-box and a cover for the front of the same, hinged thereto, of links pivoted to said cover, and having a sliding connection with said box, means thrown into operation by the upward movement of the free ends of said links for looking said cover in its horizontal position, and springs secured within said camera-box and acting upon said links for opening said cover andthrowinginto operation thelocking means therefor.

3. The combination with a camera-box and a cover for the front of the same, hinged there to, of links pivoted to said cover and having elongated slots therein provided with lateral offsets, projections extending inwardly from the sides of the camera-box through said slots and adapted to fit within said offsets for looking said cover in horizontal position, and springs secured within said camera-box and constantly held under tension by said links, whereby said cover is automatically thrown open when the lock for closing the same is released, and whereby the free ends of said links are automatically thrown outwardly, when said cover reaches its horizontal position, to move said offsets into interlocking relation with said projections.

41-. The combination with a camera-box and a cover for the front of the same, hinged there to, of links pivoted to said cover and having elongated slots therein provided with lateral offsets, projections extending inwardly from the sides of the camera-box through said slots and adapted to fit within said offsets for locking said cover in horizontal position, and springs secured attheirupperinnerends within said camera-box, extending downwardly and outwardly from their points of attachment to said box, and having their free ends reversely curved to form engaging portions, the said engaging portions lying in constant contact with the inner edges of said links, and said springs being maintained normally under tension by said links, whereby said cover is automatically thrown open when the TOO look for closing the same is released, and my hand in presence of two subscribing wit whereby the free ends of said links are autonesses. matioaliy thrown outwardly, when said cover CHAS E HUTCHINGS reaches its horizontal position, to move said i 5 offsets into interlocking relation with said Witnesses:

projections. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1 GEO. W. REILLY, FRED D. MORGAN. 

